Olney go down to Belgrave

Report by Jim Ford

BELGRAVE vs. OLNEY, Sat. 24th. Mar. 2018.
Olney travelled north on Saturday for their league match against Belgrave. The side was somewhat depleted due to injuries and non availability. Olney kicked off and the omens were not good when a touch kick went 'straight out', resulting in a lineout to the hosts, 30m. from Olney's goal line. Belgrave won the ball and forced over for a try by Elliott Walker, not converted, Belgrave 5, Olney 0. (3 mins.) The visitors were not deterred, they attacked from the restart and their defence was strong when under pressure. Marcus Goss, attacking down the wing was pushed into touch. Belgrave were penalised for offside at the line out and Olney took the scrum option. They won the ball and Cam Kok forced over for a try, Jordan Letts added the conversion and Olney went in front, after 14 mins. Belgrave 5, Olney 7.
Play ebbed and flowed for the next ten minutes, until Belgrave took advantage of good service from a line out. They used their backs to gain a try by Neil O'Conner, converted Kev Curtis, to put the home side ahead 12 - 7 (25 mins.) Olney responded from the restart and the backs linked up with the pack to produce a try by skipper Jim Osborn, not converted, levelling the scores at 12 - 12 (27 mins.). The home side attacked from the kick off and Jamie Gray ran in a try, well converted by Curtis from wide out, regaining the lead. Belgrave 19, Olney 12. (27 mins.).
Olney were awarded a penalty from the restart kick and followed up to engage in a close encounter with the home forwards. From some contact off the ball, Belgrave were reduced to fourteen men when a yellow card was produced and Sam Kyle was given ten minutes 'rest'. Letts converted the resulting penalty and the score moved on to 19 - 15 after 34 mins. From the kick off Olney were penalised on their own '22' and Belgrave kicked to touch for a lineout. Olney were able to defend the attack and were relieved when Belgrave conceded a penalty. This enabled them to move play up to the halfway line. Marcus Goss fielded a kick and fed the ball inside to Letts who ran play to the Belgrave'22'. The visitors were awarded a penalty at the breakdown and Letts converted to close the score to 19 - 18
This closed the first half. HALF TIME SCORE: BELGRAVE 19, OLNEY 18.
Belgrave kicked off for the second half, Olney bringing Isaac Shields off the bench, replacing Tom Short. A penalty against the home side was put into touch for a lineout to Olney 20m. into the home side territory. Winning the ball Olney used their backs and a big charge by 'Smudge' Smith was wasted when Belgrave claimed the ball at the breakdown, and Jack Kyle scored in the corner. Curtis added the conversion, Belgrave 26, Olney 18. (8 mins.). The game was very good for spectators and the Olney supporters were rewarded when they turned another penalty into points. The forwards won the ball from a maul and fed the backs to put Goss in for an unconverted try, closing the gap, Belgrave 26,Olney 23. (12 mins.).
Olney attacked again from the kick off and the combined efforts of forwards and backs laid siege to the Belgrave 5m. line. They strung together 16 phases but couldn't break through some resolute defending by the opposition. Despite this effort the next score was by Belgrave. They broke out and took play into the visitor's '22'. From a lineout they won the ball in the loose and Sean Kyle scored wide out. Curtis added the conversion giving Belgrave a 33 - 23 lead.
Olney used their subs., to relieve tired legs and managed to take play back into the home territory. They were rewarded when a penalty was successfully converted by Letts to take the score to Belgrave33,Olney 26. There was no further score and Olney emerged from a hard but entertaining game, with a bonus point!
FINAL SCORE : BELGRAVE 33, OLNEY 26.
TEAM: Graham Smith, Jim Osborn (capt.) Jeremiah Shields, Mark Austin, Cam Kok, Tom Short, Jake Ashton, Gareth Cahill, Lewis Foster, Phil Powell, Sam Spruce, David Smith, Jordan Letts, Marcus Goss, Lloyd Sweeney
SUBS: Isaac Shields, Elliot Simpson, Rich Cowan.
TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.